Cyclicals paced gains on Wednesday, alongside a bounce in food retailers with financials figuring prominently ahead of interest rate decisions from the Federal Reserve on Wednesday evening, as well as the Bank of England and European Central Bank the next day.

Stocks sagged as a weaker-than-expected reading on US inflation sent the single currency higher ahead of the US central bank's policy announcement later on Wednesday, with Italian stocks also battered by reports which, analysts said, held out the prospect for political instability in the Eurozone's third-largest economy in 2018.

Thursday is a big day for the Brexit process as the European Council begins its two-day meeting in Brussels, while the Bank of England's and European Central Bank's rate setters are also convening and results are expected from the likes of Bunzl, Cussons, Ocado and Sports Direct.

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